The commenter may have implied they were troops of the Russian Army, but did not outright say it. Since these few hundred are mercenaries (might as well call them that, not 'private contractors'), they are still an extension of a sovereign nations armed forces.

Yep, just like Blackwater, etc were an extension of American might in Iraq. Unless the parent wants to go down teh path of saying that American PMCs in Iraq had nothing to do with American might and power?

Just a note, Blackwater changed their name to Xe in 2007 and Academi in 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academi

I don't think the parent commenter was implying that, either. At the face of it, it is simply minor quibbling over details.